Improved composition for covering projectiles



` 1. ABSTERDAM.

Coating Projec'tiles.

Patented Aug. t2, 1862.

Ndl 36,132. l

Witnesses:

; lnventr:

sents a cross-section of the same.

- banding the projectile.

JOHN Ans'rnnnnivr, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

i* HVlPROVED COMPOSITION FOR COVERING PROJECTILES.

Specification fmmiug part ot'-Letters Patent No. 36,E 32, dated August 12, 1862.

'o all whom, it may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, .Tor-1N ABsrERDAM, scientitic and mechanical engineer, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Composition for Coating, Covering, Banding, and Cementing Cannon- Irojectiles, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure l represents an elongated rifled-cannon projectile coated or banded with my composition. Fig. 2 represents a crosssection of the same. A is the composition. B is the projectile.

Fig. 3 represents an elongated cannon-projectile which Idenominate the conglomerate solid shot,7 made of grapeshot or slugs ce; mented together with my composition. Fig. 4 represents a cross-section of the same. A is the composition. a a are the grape-shot or slugs.

Fig. 5 represents an elongated cannon-projectile which I denominate the conglomerate hollow shot,77 made of grape-shot or slugs with a metallic tube in the center, all cemented together with my composition. Fig. 6 repre- A is the composition. c a are the grape-shot or slugs. D is the metallic tube. This metallic tube, in the interior of the projectile, serves as a chamber to receive vthe powder to explode the conglomerate projectile.

Fig. 7 represents a longitudinal section of an elongated projectile, of arnold, and my com'- position, showing the) manner of. coating or I rirst set the mold upright and place the projectile in an inverted position in the mold. I then pour the melted composition therein around the projectile.

That part of the projectile which is to be coated or banded must be smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the mold. -A is the composition. B is the projectile. C is the mold, which in its inner diameter is a crosssection of thev gun for which the projectiles are to be used. v

The nature of my invention consists in coating, covering, banding, and cementing cannonsubstances, or made only of sulphur and plumbago; or made only of sulphur and steatite. or of sulphur and asbestus, and is capable of being melted and remelted in a liquid state,l if required, which composition, being of a lubricating nature, will permit the projectile to be fired with a very light friction against the inner circumference of the gun; and if the gun is rilied it will cause less wearing of the grooves than the projectiles having a metallic surface, thereby lessening the danger of bursting the gun, and, as the composition possesses refrigerating properties, .will assist in preventing the-gun from heating.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I take any desired quantity of sulphur and submit it to the action of heat in an iron ladle or any other suitable vessel. As soon as the sulphur is melted, I add to it any desired quantity of powdered plumbago and steatite, also .a few drops of oil, (a very good proportion of the materials are ten parts, by weight, of sulphur and iive parts or less oi' plumbago, or ten parts of sulphur and live parts or less of steatite, or ten parts of sulphur, two parts of plumbago,two parts of steatite, one part of metallic oxides or sulphurets,) and stir the whole together. Vhen the mixture has assumedthe consistency of athick paste, I'knead it well for several hours with an iron or wooden rod, increasing the heat gradually until the whole is completely incorporated. I then take vthe ladle or pot from the. re and let it rest.

a state of fusion, metallic oxides, sulphurets, and dry paints.

By using a large proportion of sulphurets .I am enabled to make a composition that will When desired stand a high degree of heat.

that the composition should be tough, Iipour it, while in a state of fusion, into cold or hot water, then remelt it again; andwhen desired that the composition should be brittle, I employ a larger proportion of sulphur than other- In order to 'harden the composition, I add to it, while in 2 as, use

wise and submit it to less heat. In order to coat or band the projectiles with my composition, I iirst construct a mold, which in its inner diameter is a crosssection of the interior of the gun. It can be made of one single piece of meta-l or in segments. If the inner circumference ofthe gun is riiied or planed, I rifle or plane the inner circumference of the mold similar to the cross-section of the interior of the gun. rIhe mold may be a trifle smaller in its inner diameter than the inner diameter of the gun,in order to facilitate loading. Having thus constructed the -mold, I,place it upright on a stand, and introduce the projectile therein in an inverted position, as seen at Fig. 7. I then pour the melted composition in the mold around the projectiles. As soon as the composition becomes hard, if the mold is made in segments, I open it and take out the projectile, which is found coated or banded similar in form to the cross-section of the interior of the gun; If the mold i is made with a solid circumference, I force the projectile out by means of screw .or hydraulic pressure. I generally cast the elongated iron projectiles with a circular cavity or groove around its circumference of a sufficient depth and width, according to the thickness and width of the band that may be required around the projectile. In placing the proj ectile within the mold, a circular channel is formed between the circular cavity of the projectile and the inner circumference of the mold, which I iill with the melted composition, and a band is formed adhering so strongly to the projectile as to become a part of the same. I oil the interior of the mold in order to prevent the composition from sticking to the same. Then desired to manufacture conglomerate solid shot, I fill the mold with heated grape-shot or slugs and pour the melted composition therein, which lls the space between the grape-shot or slugs, thereby cementing the whole together into one projectile having its exterior form similar to the interior of the mold.

In manufacturing hollow conglomerate shot,

I I iirst place a tube or chamber inthe center of the mold. I `then introduce the heated grape shot or slugs around the tube or chamber and pour therein the melted composition, which, on becomingcold, the whole is found rmly cemented together intoone hollow projectile,

which may be used .advantageously as a substtute for shells, especially in ring at a distance too great for grape and canister. hollow conglomerate shot can be used in firing at a long range, which, in exploding, the grape shot or slugs will scatter to such a radius and produce more execution than can beobtained with grape and canister in firing at a short distance. I make also this kind of conglomerate shot for mortars, to be used instead of bombs. In the same manner I also make conglomerate balls for `the use of small fire-arms by using buck-shot or slugs instead of grape-shot. All these conglomerate projectiles I intendy to secure by Letters Patent, for which I will make application hereafter.

By making the solid conglomerate shot with a brittle composition, it will break and scatter instantaneously upon leaving the mouthof the gun, which in that case may be employed instead of grape and canister. In making the same solid shot with a hard composition,it will break and scatter only upon striking the object against which it is directed. I

The hollow conglomerate shot I provide with the same kind of fuse such as are now used for shells.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A composition of sulphur and plumbago for coating, covering, banding, and cementing cannon, mortar, and small ire-arm projectiles, substantially as described.

2. A composition of sulphur and steatite for coating, covering, banding, and cementing cannon, mortar, and small rearm projectiles, substantially as described.

3. 'Ihe employment of sulphur, in combination with mineral or earthy substances, `to form a material or composition for coating, covering, banding, and cementing cannon, mortar,and small fire-arm projectiles, substantially as described. l

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and signature this 11th day of June, 1862.

JOHN ABSTERDAM.

Witnesses:

HENRY D. WALKER, EZRA A. Dow.

This 4 

